Plant Care Persian Cyclamen

Persian Cyclamen

4.3 out of 5 (42 experiences)

Persian Cyclamen has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily
Persian Cyclamen has a Survivor plant personality Survivor

About Persian Cyclamen

Persian Cyclamen is a super popular houseplant 🌿 that is isn’t challenging to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. They do best in abundant sunlight ☀ and should be less than 3 feet from a window.

Plant parents describe this plant as easy to bloom and being a survivor with a whopping 3529 being grown with Greg around the world. Check out the reviews below for more details!🌟

Persian Cyclamen likes soil that is well draining. Your plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size.

Persian Cyclamen belongs to the Cyclamen genus, and is native to Variegated.

⚠️ Persian Cyclamen is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.

Taxonomy

Cyclamen persicum
Cyclamen
Primulaceae
Ericales

Also known as

Cyclamen, Persian Violet and Sowbread

How to care for Persian Cyclamen

💦 Water

How often to water your Persian Cyclamen

Water needs for Persian Cyclamen
0.5 cups
every 9

Persian Cyclamen needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Persian Cyclamen

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Persian Cyclamen in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Persian Cyclamen: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

Persian Cyclamen may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Persian Cyclamen in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Persian Cyclamen

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Persian Cyclamen: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Persian Cyclamen after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Cyclamen
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Persian Cyclamen is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

Benefits of Growing Persian Cyclamen →

Common Persian Cyclamen Problems →


💦 Water Needs

Persian Cyclamen prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Persian Cyclamen Water Frequency →

Persian Cyclamen Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Persian Cyclamen may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Persian Cyclamen Light Requirements →

Persian Cyclamen Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Persian Cyclamen is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.


💨 Humidity

Persian Cyclamen doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Persian Cyclamen Humidity Needs →


🪴 Soil

Persian Cyclamen does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Persian Cyclamen →

When and How to Successfully Repot Persian Cyclamen →


💩 Fertilizer

Persian Cyclamen should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


🌎 Native Region

Persian Cyclamen is native to Europe and the Mediterranean.


🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Persian Cyclamen bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Persian Cyclamen grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

How and When to Prune Persian Cyclamen →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Persian Cyclamen can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Persian Cyclamen Temperature Tolerance →


🌱 Propagation

Persian Cyclamen can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

  • Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
  • If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
  • Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
  • Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Persian Cyclamen, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Persian Cyclamen

Persian Cyclamen

Persian Cyclamen


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Persian Cyclamen has a Blooms easily plant personality Blooms easily 20
Persian Cyclamen has a Survivor plant personality Survivor 17
Persian Cyclamen has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 10
Persian Cyclamen has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 8
Persian Cyclamen has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 7
Persian Cyclamen has a Pest magnet plant personality Pest magnet 1
@YardCosmo avatar
@@YardCosmo
leaf-1 50 Plants
xp 1,085 XP
globe Sacramento, CA
03/14/2022

Finicky.

@haleylips avatar
@@haleylips
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 45 XP
globe Orlando, FL
02/23/2022

Harmful for humans and animals if ingested. Most rewarding plant I have so far. Loves well drained pot. I water with about two cups every 3-4 days and I spray it everyday. It’s my favorite plant I have, as I saved it from almost being dead at my work office from a coworker.

Survivor Survivor
Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
@Roxanne avatar
@@Roxanne
leaf-1 37 Plants
xp 12,920 XP
globe Portland, OR
01/15/2022

It goes dormant in the summer so don’t freak out if it looks dead. Come fall/winter, it bounces back quickly. Its leaves have a beautiful patterning but it’s blooms are even more impressive. Once the buds form, it takes about a month for them to bloom but it’s worth the wait. They are so unique, they look like butterfly wings. Lovely plant, so easy to care for. Just give it bright indirect light and keep its soil from drying out and you’ll have a happy plant!

Fast grower Fast grower
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Survivor Survivor
@Ari77 avatar
@@Ari77
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 159 XP
globe Federal Way, WA
11/26/2021

Needs water a sun a lot. Should water it every two days

Browns easily Browns easily
Holly avatar
@Holly
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 80 XP
globe Langley, British Columbia
11/10/2021

This little guy has survived my “care” for many years which makes it a survivor in my books! I love it though and in my experience, it has been very kind to my tendency for drought and then overwatering.

I also really appreciate that it quickly shows if it needs water… I just need to pay enough attention to give it what it’s asking for.

Survivor Survivor
Browns easily Browns easily
@Crustyendofthegarlicbread avatar
@@Crustyendofthegarlicbread
leaf-1 5 Plants
xp 94 XP
globe Bidford-on-Avon, England
10/30/2021

Very pretty leaves

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Browns easily Browns easily
@Samijohanson avatar
@@Samijohanson
leaf-1 92 Plants
xp 2,533 XP
globe McCall, ID
09/26/2021

Beautiful cyclamen flowers yearly

Fast grower Fast grower
Survivor Survivor
Blooms easily Blooms easily
@IsabellaMadden22 avatar
@@IsabellaMadden22
leaf-1 30 Plants
xp 664 XP
09/12/2021

Very easy to look after. Likes to sit in a bright, East-facing window.

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Fast grower Fast grower
Blooms easily Blooms easily
Survivor Survivor
Patricia avatar
@Patricia
leaf-1 7 Plants
xp 581 XP
globe Plymouth, MA
09/10/2021

It is an very easy plant to take care of and if neglected quickly bounces back.

Survivor Survivor
Fast grower Fast grower
Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Blooms easily Blooms easily
@Buddingbotanist avatar
@@Buddingbotanist
leaf-1 103 Plants
xp 11,840 XP
08/30/2021

This plant is a little temperamental. I haven’t had any blooms since I first got this almost a year ago. It is very sensitive to watering. The stems can get soggy if you water too much or get water too close to the crown. Better to water from the tray - so make sure you put in a planter that has a decent tray to hold water.

Kshaunish avatar
@Kshaunish
leaf-1 2 Plants
xp 102 XP
globe Panania, New South Wales
08/08/2021

It’s beautiful colour!

Jio avatar
@Jio
leaf-1 8 Plants
xp 186 XP
globe Bombay, Auckland
06/13/2021

leaves and flowers keep browning :( tried watering it differently (less sometimes, more others) kept it out of light, in light and keep having the same cycle, keeps browning easily, idk what to do

Browns easily Browns easily
@Lohobobo avatar
@@Lohobobo
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 94 XP
globe Pittsburgh, PA
06/09/2021

I have had this little plant for 10 years! It was a Valentine’s Day gift from my baby nephew. It’s lasted a few repottings, three houses and two offices.

Survivor Survivor
Blooms easily Blooms easily
@Turkeybutter12 avatar
@@Turkeybutter12
leaf-1 31 Plants
xp 1,260 XP
05/18/2021

Don’t worry about them browning easily, let them drain.

Browns easily Browns easily
@VoxUltima avatar
@@VoxUltima
leaf-1 16 Plants
xp 868 XP
globe New York
05/06/2021

Very sensitive to sunlight and water, but it’s nice to see how fast it reacts, and you can quickly adapt to learn what it likes. Very pretty when it has its flowers out.

Browns easily Browns easily
@sarahg avatar
@@sarahg
leaf-1 12 Plants
xp 159 XP
globe Houston, TX
05/05/2021

When I first got my cyclamen in February, all her blooms died so I cut them off leaving just the leaves. About a month later, she gave me 6-8 new blooms and just keeps on blooming. Some weeks she needs more water than others and she communicates this by getting a little droopy. I’ll give her about 4-6oz of water and she perks back up within a couple hours. I love my beautiful cyclamen and how her blooms are upside down.

Blooms easily Blooms easily
@Ilikeplantz avatar
@@Ilikeplantz
leaf-1 44 Plants
xp 5,405 XP
globe Cottonwood Heights, UT
04/06/2021

Beautiful but DRAMATIC

Vanessa avatar
@Vanessa
leaf-1 0 Plants
xp 45 XP
globe Fort Worth, TX
04/04/2021

Very hard to take care of and not for the casual plant owner

@troby88 avatar
@@troby88
leaf-1 22 Plants
xp 3,118 XP
globe Paden City, WV
03/02/2021

Such a beauty, love the leaves on this plant mine doesn’t like a lot of water it does love the morning sun

Blooms easily Blooms easily

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